“One of my top priorities is making it easier for small business owners to create new jobs, so I am very pleased to have my voting record recognized by the NFIB,” said Bates. “It is already expensive to do business in California, so I will continue to do what I can to spare small businesses from additional costs and burdensome laws originating from Sacramento.”

Bates was classified as part of the “NFIB 100% Club,” a distinction given to less than one in four state legislators. NFIB assessed legislators on 12 bills vital to the health of small business in California during the 2016 half of the 2015-16 legislative session. 29 legislators scored 100 percent; however 62 legislators failed small business this year with scores ranging from 27 percent to just eight percent. The complete NFIB Voting Record with the bill numbers, description and votes can be found here.

For example, Bates opposed bills that will impose additional environmental mandates without considering economic costs (SB 32) and make it more difficult to create additional entry-level jobs (SB 3). She was also recognized for her votes to reduce junk lawsuits (SB 269) and protect business assets when employees are arrested (SB 443).

NFIB/CA State Executive Director Tom Scott congratulated Bates and said, “As a small business owner, Senator Pat Bates understands firsthand how difficult it is to own, operate and expand a business here in this state. Senator Bates’ 100 percent NFIB Voting Record is a result of her consistently voting to protect California small businesses from additional taxes, mandates and complex regulations.”